Combination high chair and vehicle



13, E. SQPEYTO N COMBINATION HIGH CHAIR AND VEHICLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed 00;. so, 1953 INVENTOR E fife f0 72 ATTORNEY Nowl3, 1956 E. s.PEYTON 2,770,233

COMBINATION l-{IGH CHAIR AND VEHICLE Filed Oct. 30, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet2 I v INVENTOR :ii' a. 7. SP6 9 i0 72 y/WW ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1956 E. s.PEYTON cousmnxou HIGH 0mm AND VEHICLE o5 Sheet-Sheet 5 m Q W Filed Oct.30. 1953 ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1956 E. s. PEYTON 2,770,233

7 COMBINATION HIGH CHAIR AND VEHICLE Filed Oct. 30, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet4 93 INVENTOR Wm, 13, 1956 E. s. PEYTON 2,779,233

COMBINATION HIGH CHAIR AND VEHICLE Filed Oct. so, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR' E fii' e yfiw m AORNEY United States Patent CGMBINATION HIGHCHAIR AND VEHICLE Edward S. Peyton, Miami, Fla.,

to Joseph F. Mazzei, County, Pa.

assignor of fifty percent This invention relates to a novel structurefor use by infants and young children forming a combination article offurniture and vehicle capable of being used both indoors and out ofdoors by infants and young children.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide astructure forming a combination baby carriage, stroller, walker, bouncerand high chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure which may bereadily folded to provide a compact unit for storage or for carrying inthe trunk of an automobile.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the structure arranged to form awalker;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the structure partiallyextended to form a stroller;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the stroller looking from rightto left of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along aplane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyalong a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the front portionof the guard and through the tray supported thereby, taken substantiallyalong a plane as indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure Figure 8 is afragmentary bottom plan view of the structure as seen in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section,illustrating the position of the extensible structure to form a bouncer;

Figure 10 is a substantially central longitudinal vertical sectionalview showing the structure extended to form a high chair;

Borough of Hollidaysburg, Blair Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by theline 11-11 of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the line 12-12 of Figure 3;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view partly inelevation and showing the spring support in its position of Figure 9 andtaken at a right angle to Figure 9, and

Figure 14 is a cross sectional view through the seat as it would appearremoved from the vehicle structure.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the combination vehicle inits entirety is designated generally 15 and includes a chassis,designated generally 16. The chassis 16, as best seen in Figures 1, 2,6, 9 and 10, in

2 ,770,288 Patented Nov. 13, 1956 cludes a pair of transversely spacedoutwardly opening side channel members 17 which are connected at theirforward ends by a rigid U-shaped member 18 having rearwardly extendingends or legs 19 which are secured in the forward ends of the outwardlyopening channels 17 by suitable fastenings 20. The forward end of thechassis 16 is supported by a pair of front caster wheels 21 the curvedforks 22 of which have upwardly extending kingbolts 22a which extendvertically through and are journaled in the channel members 17 and legs19. As best seen in Figure 10, bearing brackets 23 are secured to anddepend from the undersides of the rear ends of the channel members 17.An axle 24 extends through the bearing brackets 23 and has rear wheels25 journaled on the ends thereof which are disposed outwardly withrespect to the side members 17 for supporting the rear end of thechassis 16 and for combining with the front caster wheels 21 to supportthe chassis in substantially a horizontal plane. Rods 26 have forwardends which are secured in the rear ends of the channel members 17, as byadditional fastenings 20, and said rods 26 have upwardly curved oppositeends disposed rearwardly of said channel members, for a purpose whichwill hereinafter be described.

The vehicle structure 15 includes an extensible leverage system,designated generally 27, which includes a pair of U-shaped bottom levers28 and 29. The lever 28 is journaled on a shaft 30 which extends throughthe legs 28a thereof, near the intermediate portion 28b of said lever.The ends of the shaft 30 extend outwardly through the channel members 17near their rear ends. As seen in Figure 3, spacing sleeves 31 aredisposed on the shaft 30 between the legs 28a and the channel members 17for retaining the lever 28 properly centered in the chassis 16. Thelever 28 cooperates with the spacing members 31 and shaft 30 formaintaining a proper spacing between the rear end portions of thechannel members 17.

The vertically disposed inner and intermediate portions of the channelmembers 17 are provided adjacent their forward ends with longitudinallyextending slots 32 and with notches 33 which are inclined upwardly andrearwardly relatively to said channel members 17 and which open at theirupper ends into the slots 32. The notches 33 are longitudinally spacedfrom one another and from the ends of the slots 32. Pins 34 are fixed toand project outwardly from the terminals of the legs 29a of the lever 29andsaid pins 34, which are disposed in alignment, engage the slots 32 orcorresponding notches 33. The lever 29 is wider than the lever 28 andthe legs 29a thereof straddle the legs 28aand are pivotally connectedthereto in crossed relationship by a rod or shaft 35 which extendsturnably through the legs 28a and 29a at points slightly nearer theterminals of said legs than the intermediate portions 28b and 29b of thelevers. The terminals of the legs 29a, from which the pins 34 project,are preferably flattened and outwardly oifset slightly as seen at 290 inFigure 6 so as to be disposed relatively close to the adjacent innersides of the channel members 17.

The extensible leverage system 27 includes upper pairs of levers 36 and37 which are pivotally connected in crossed relationship, substantiallyintermediate of their ends, by a rod or shaft 38 which extends turnablythrough the intermediate portions of said levers 36 and 37. The levers36 straddle the levers 37 and have lower ends which are disposed on theouter sides of and pivotally connected to the terminals of the leverlegs 28a by pivot pins 39. The lower ends of the lovers 37 are disposedon the inner sides of the lever legs 29a and pivotally connected theretoby pivot pins 40 adjacent the intermediate lever portions 2%.

A substantially U-shaped seat and back rest supporting frame, designatedgenerally 41, is formed of angle iron and includes a depending outerflange 42 and a substantially horizontal top flange 43 which extendsinwardly from the upper edge of the flange 42. The frame 41 includestransversely spaced legs 44 having upwardly inclined rear end portions45, the rear ends of which are connected by the intermediate portion 46of the frame 41, which is thus disposed above the level of the forwardportions of said legs 44. Slotted bars 47 are secured in the forwardends of the legs 44 by fastenings 48 which extend through the ends ofsaid bars. The bars 47 have longitudinally extending slots 49 extendingto adjacent the ends thereof and the slotted portions of said bars areinwardly offset with respect to the depending flange 42 of the frame 41.

The upper ends of the levers 36 engage the inner side of the dependingflange 42 of the legs 44 near the upturned leg portions 45 and arepivotally connected thereto by pivot pins 58'. The opposite upper endsof the levers 37 engage the adjacent sides of the slotted bars 47 andare slidably connected to said bars and to the frame 41 by double headedpins 51 having shank portions turnably engaging said last mentioned endsof the levers 37 and slidably engaging the slots 49. Each pin 51 has ahead which slidably fits between the bar 47 and the adjacent frameflange 42, as seen in Figure 2, and the other heads of the pins 51 aredisposed on the adjacent sides of the last mentioned ends of the levers37 away from bars 47 and may be formed 011 said pins after the pins arepassed through the levers 37. The first mentioned headed ends of thepins 51 are of a size to prevent their passing through the slot 49.Thus, the levers 37 are pivotally and slidably connected to the frame 41while the levers 36 have pivotal engagement only with the frame.

A seat 52 is supported on and suitably secured to the top flange 43 ofthe frame legs 44 and extends from adjacent the rear ends of the legportions 44 forwardly to a point intermediate of the ends of said legportions. The seat 52 has a restricted or narrowed forward end 53providing spaces between the side edges of said restricted seat portion53 and the forward parts of the leg portions 44 to accommodate the legsof a child. A pair of bracket members 54 have lower ends secured as byfastenings 20 to the inner side of the depending flange 42 and saidbrackets or bars 54 extend upwardly and forwardly through slots 55 inthe top flange 43, as best seen in Figure 4. The brackets or bars 54 aredisposed immediately behind the seat 52. A back rest 56 has rigid strapmembers 57 projecting forwardly from the side edges thereof and adjacentthe bottom edge of said back rest the forward ends of which arepivotally connected to the upper ends of the brackets 54 by pivot pins58 to combine with said brackets to form hinges for the back rest 56.The other rear ends of the strap members 57 are turned inwardly andengage the rear side of the back rest 56 and are suitably securedthereto as by additional fastenings 20. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, abar 59 has its intermediate portion secured to the intermediate portionof the rear side of the back rest 56 by suitable fastenings 20 and hasoutwardly turned back upper and lower end portions 60 and 61 which arespaced rearwardly from the intermediate portion of said bar 59 and whichare provided with openings 62. A spring projected latch 63 is mounted onthe outer side of each of the turned back portions 60 and 61 and has abolt 64 which is spring projected inwardly through the opening 62thereof and into engagement with the intermediate portion of the bar 59.A brace rod 65 has a laterally offset end 66 which turnably engages anopening 67 in the depending flange 42 of the rear frame portion 46. Thebrace rod 65 extends upwardly and toward the back rest 56 from the inneredge of the top flange 43 of the rear frame portion 46 and has alaterally turned opposite free end 68 which engages in the bight portionof the lower turned back end 61 and under the bolt of the lower latch63, by which thebrace 65 is releasably retained connected to the backrest 56, for supporting said back rest in a raised position, asillustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 10.

The wide rear portion of the seat 52 is provided with a relatively largeopening 69, as seen in Figures l0 and 14. Bars 70 are secured to theunderside of the seat 52 and extend longitudinally thereof on oppositesides of the opening 69 and have downwardly offset side edge portions 71forming supports adapted to engage beneath the flanged rim of aconventional childs toilet pot for demountably supporting the potbeneath the opening 69 to provide a childs toilet. A seat cushion 72 isdisposed on the upper surface of the wide rear portion of the seat 52 tonormally close the opening 69 therein and has its rear edge disposedadjacent to the bottom edge of a back rest cushion 73 which is disposedagainst the forward side of the back rest 56. If desired, the opening 69may be omitted and the cushions 72 and 73 may likewise be omitted.

A pair of rigid rear supporting links 74 have lower ends disposed on theouter sides of the frame legs 44 which are pivotally connected theretoby the fastenings 50. The lower ends of a pair of front links 75likewise straddle the frame legs 44, forwardly of the pivots 50 and arepivotally connected at 76 to the flange 42 of said legs 44 behind andadjacent the slotted bars 47. The links 74 and 75 extend upwardly insubstantially parallel relationship to one another and are pivotallyconnected by pivot means 77 at their upper ends to the outer sides ofsubstantially parallel legs 78 of a substantially U-shaped guard rail79. The pivots 77 of each guard rail leg 78 are spaced apart a distancecorresponding to the spacing between the pivots 50 and 76. The guardrail 79 has an open rear end defined by the distal ends of the legs 78which are spaced apart a distance sufficient to straddle side edges ofthe back rest 56. The front end of the guard rail 79 is closed by anintermediate or bight portion 80 thereof. The terminals of the legs of asubstantially U- shaped bail 81 are pivotally connected to the guardrail legs 78 and the rear links 74 by the rear pivots 77. Said legs 82of the bail 81 are disposed on the outer sides of the rear links 74 andthe guard rail legs 78 and the intermediate bail portion 83 extendsacross the rear side of the back rest 56 and is normally latched in theupper turned back bar portion 60 by the upper latch 63, as illustratedin Figure 4, in the same manner that the brace portion 68 is latched inthe lower bar portion 61.

The links 74 and 75 have male sections of separable snap fasteners 84fixed to and projecting from the outer sides thereof near their upperends. A cross strap 85 has female snap fastener portions 86 connected tothe ends thereof and which selectively engage the male fastener portions84 for attaching the ends of the cross strap 85 to either the rear links74 or the front links 75. A crotch strap 87 has a looped upper end 88slidably engaging the intermediate portion of the cross strap 85 andextends downwardly therefrom through a slot 89 in the front seat portion53 and is secured to the underside of the seat by a fastening 20, asillustrated in Figure 10.

A tray 90 has a flanged rim which is detachably supported on the forwardguard portions 78 and the guard portion 80. The guard portions 78 haverecessed bot tom portions 91 to receive a stationary tray holding bar 92which is secured to the underside of the tray 90 and a slidably mountedspring projected holding bar 93. The bars 92 and 93 are disposedlongitudinally of the tray adjacent the ends thereof and the bar 93 hasa longitudinal slot 94 slidably engaging headed studs 95 and is urgedoutward of the tray by a housed coil spring means 96 which bears againstthe inner end of the bar 93, all as clearly illustrated in Figures 7 and8. The bar 93 may be retracted inwardly to disengage the tray from orfor applying the tray to the forward part of the guard rail 79.

As illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 9, l0 and 13, a pair of invertedU-shaped wire hangers 97 are swingably suspended from the rod 38 betweenthe levers 36. An

expansion coil spring 98 is wound about the legs of each of the hangers97. After application of the springs 98, the lower free ends of the legsof the hangers 97 are turned outwardly and back upon themselves to formspring stops 99 which engage the bottom convolutions of the two springs98. The wire hangers 97 are con nected to swing in unison on the shaft38 by a relatively stiff strand of wire 100 which extends between saidhangers 97 and is suitably secured to lower portions thereof. The strandhas an element 101 extending rearwardly therefrom which is providedadjacent its rear free end with two longitudinally spaced upwardlyoffset downwardly opening substantially inverted U- shaped portions 102and 103. The strand portion 101 extends over the lever portion 29b andwhen the inner inverted U-portion 102 thereof is in engagement with thelever portion 29b, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 10, the wire hangers97 will be swung rearwardly to inoperative positions as the extensiblelever structure 27 is collapsed from its position of Figure to itsposition of Figure 1, so that the wire hangers 97 will pass downwardlybehind the shaft 35 as best illustrated in Figure 2. On the other hand,when the rear inverted U-portion 103 is in engagement with the leverpart 2921, as illustrated in Figure 9, the wire hangers 97 are held inforward positions so that the legs thereof will straddle the shaft 35when the extensible supporting structure 27 is collapsed, so that thesprings 98 will rest upon said shaft 35, as illustrated in Figure 9, toprevent a complete collapsing of the supporting structure 27.

An inverted U-shaped tubular handle 104 has collars 105 secured to thelower ends of the legs thereof, each of which carries a latch structure106 the bolt 107 of which is spring projected inwardly through thecollar and handle end. The handle ends fit telescopically over theupturned ends of the rods 26, as best seen in Figure 12, and over rodmembers 108 which are hingedly connected to the upper ends of the rods26 as seen at 109 and which form hinged extensions thereof. The rods 26have outwardly projecting stops 110 which limit the downwardslidingmovement of the handle ends thereon and by which the latch bolts 107 areproperly positioned to be spring projected into keeper recesses 111 ofthe rods 26 for releasably latching the handle to said rods for rigidlypositioning the handle 104 in an operative upwardly and rearwardlyinclined position relatively to the chassi 16, as seen in Figures 2 and10. The latch bolts 107 maybe manually retracted for disengagement fromthe keeper recesses 111 to allow the handle ends to he slid upwardly outof engagement with the rods 26 so that the lower ends of the handle willbe disposed around the hinged rods 108 with the latch bolts 107positioned to be spring projected into upper keeper recesses 112 of therods 108. Thus, the handle 104 is latched to the rods 108 in a raisedposition out of engagement with the rods 26 so that the handle 104 andthe hinged rods 108 may be swung relatively to the rods 26 about thehinged points 109 forwardly and downwardly to a folded position of thehandle, as illustrated in Figure 1.

With the parts of the vehicle in either their position of Figure 2 or10, for example, by manually lifting the lever ends 290 the pins 34 canbe disengaged from the notches 33 and permitted to slide forwardly inthe slots 32 beyond the forwardmost notches 33. With the wire hangers 97held in rear positions by engagement of the strand portion 102 with thelever portion 2%, said hangers will pass behind the shaft 35 as theextensible supporting structure 27 is collapsed. This is accomplished bya folding of the pivoted lower levers 28 and 29 accomplished by asliding of the lever ends 29c and their pins 34 forwardly of the chassis16 until the pins 34 engage the forward ends of the slots 32, and thecollapsing of the upper pairs of levers 36 and 37 by the headed pins 51of the forward ends of the levers 37 sliding in the slots 49 to adjacentthe forward end of the frame 41, so that the extensible supportingstructure 27 may assume a fully collapsed or folded position, asillustrated in Figure 1. The handle 104 is then released and swungdownwardly to its folded position of Figure 1 and the vehicle 15 is thenpositioned to be used by a child as a walker with the cross strapconnected to the front links 75. The seat 52 is disposed sufiicientlyclose to the chassis 16 so that a child seated thereon with its legsstraddling the crotch strap 87 and extending downwardly between theforward seat portion 53 and the frame legs 44, and downwardly throughthe extensible supporting structure 27 and chassis 16 may place his feetupon the supporting surface of the wheels 21 and 25' for propelling thevehicle 15 by movement of the legs, as a walker.

With the vehicle arranged as illustrated in Figure 1, the bolts 64 ofthe latches 63 may be retracted for disengaging the brace portion 68 andthe bail portion 83 from the keeper bar 59. The brace 65 may be swung tothe left as seen in Figure 3 so as to rest in an inoperative position ona supporting hook 114 which is secured to and extends inwardly from therear frame portion 46. With the back rest thus released, the back restmay be swung downwardly and forwardly over the seat 52 and the guardrail 79 and links '74 and 75 may likewise be moved downwardly andforwardly all to their dotted line positions of Figure 1 and in whichthe vehicle 15 is fully folded and is sufficiently compact so that itcan be readily stored or carried in an automobile trunk.

Assuming that the parts are arranged as illustrated in full lines ofFigure 1 to form a walker, as previously described, said structure maybe readily converted into a stroller by swinging and latching the handle104 in an extended, operative position, as illustrated in Figure 2,after which the frame 41 is manually grasped and lifted relatively tothe chassis 16, causing the extensible supporting structure 27 to beextended and with the pins 34 and 51 sliding rearwardly relatively tothe chassis 16 and frame 41. As the pins 34 slide rearwardly in theslots 32 said pins will drop by gravity into the forwardmost notches 33,whereupon the vehicle 15 is disposed to form a stroller, as illustratedin full lines of Figure 2 and in Figure 3. The cross strap 85 may bedetachably connected, as previously described, to either the rear links74, as illustrated in Figure 2, or to the front links 75, if preferred.Likewise, it will be readily apparent that the frame 41 and partssupported thereby may be disposed in a higher stroller position, ifdesired, by further lifting the frame above its level of Figure 2, sothat the pins 34 will ride over the back edges and out of engagementwith the forwardmost notches 33 and into engagement with the notchesdisposed immediately therebehind. In either of these stroller positionsthe vehicle 15 may also be utilized as a baby carriage for youngerchildren by merely releasing the brace 65, as previously described, andswinging said brace to its inoperative position against the hook 114,after which the back rest 56 may be swung downwardly and rearwardlyabout its pivot 58 to its dotted line position, resting on the rearframe portion 46. As the bail 81 is connected to the back rest 56 itwill be moved rearwardly and downwardly therewith causing the links 74and 75 to be swung rearwardly about their pivots 50 and 76 causing theguard rail 79 to be displaced rearwardly to its dotted line position. Inthe dotted line position of the parts as seen in Figure 2, it will bereadily apparent that thevehicle forms a baby carriage and in thisposition if desired the cross strap 85 may be disconnected from thelinks and stored for example beneath the seat cushion 72. Thus, a babymay may be placed in a reclining position on the seat and back restWhile wrapped in blankets or in a hunting.

Assuming that the vehicle 15 is arranged to form a stroller asillustrated in full lines in Figure 2, by lifting and displacing thestrand portion 101 forwardly so as to thereafter engage its part103 withthe lever portion 29b, as illustrated in Figure 9, the wire hangers 97will be positioned to straddle the shaft 35 when the supportingstructure 27 is lowered toward a collapsed position. By then lifting theforward lever ends 290, the pins 34 will be disengaged from the notches33 and said pins may be allowed to slide in the slots 32 toward theforward ends thereof and beyond the forwardmost notches 33 to therebypermit the supporting structure 27 and the parts supported thereby tomove downwardly toward a collapsed position. However, before thesupporting structure 27 reaches its fully collapsed position the lowerportions 99 of thewire hangers 97 will have straddled the shaft 35 andthe bottom convolutions of the springs 98 will have come to rest uponsaid shaft to prevent the supporting structure 27 from being collapsedbeyond its position of Figure 9 without further compressing the springs98. Thus, the pins 34 will be spaced a substantial distance from theforward ends of the slots 32 and the supporting structure 27 and partssupported thereby will be yieldably supported by the coil springs 98. Inthis position of the supporting structure 27 and with the partssupported by the frame 41 disposed as illustrated in full lines inFigure 2 or as shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 15 is arranged to functionas a bouncer and the springs 98 will provide a spring support enablingthe frame 41 and parts supported thereby to yield upwardly anddownwardly. Likewise, if

desired, the handle 104 may be unlatched and swung to a folded positionas illustrated in Figure 1 when the vehicle is utilized as a bouncer.

It will also be apparent that with the handle 104 latched in a raisedposition that the extensible supporting structure 27 may be extended aspreviously described from any one of the positions as illustrated inFigures 1, 2 or 9 and the pins 34 may be permitted to engage in thenotches 33 spaced more remote from the forward ends of the slots 32 thanthe notches 33 engaged by the pins 34 to form a stroller. Thus, the morefully extended support 27 will combine with the frame 41 and partssupported thereby to form a high chair, as illustrated in Figure 10.When arranged to form a high chair, the tray 90 is applied to the guardrail 79, as previously described and the cross strap 85 may be connectedeither to the rear links 74, as illustrated, or to the front links 75.The extensible support 27 may be adjusted by a selective engagement ofits pins 34 with the notches 33 so that the forward end of the frame 41will be at a proper level to slip beneath a dining room table and withthe forward end of the guard 79 and tray 90 disposed above the level ofthe top of the table, for most convenient use of the structure 15 as ahigh chair. It will also be apparent that the tray 90 may be employedand mounted as illustrated in Figure 10 when the vehicle is disposed inits other positions as illustrated in the drawings and as previouslydescribed.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combination vehicle of the character described comprising a wheeledchassis having spaced sides, an extensible supporting unitcomprising asystem of jointed levers having a lower end connected to the chassissides, a seat supporting frame having spaced sides connected to andsupported by the upper end of said supporting unit, said supporting unithaving a lower part and an upper part pivotally connected to the chassissides and frame .sides, respectively, and a lower part and an upper partpivotally and slidably connected to the chassis sides and frame sides,respectively, means adjustably latching said last mentioned lower partof the supporting unit to the chassis sides at different spacedintervals from the first mentioned lower part of the supporting unit formain- 8 V taining said supporting unit in different extended positionsfor supporting said frame at different elevations above the chassis, aseat mounted on and supported by theframe sides, a back rest connectedto and supported by the frame sides and extending upwardly from the rearend of said seat, said supporting unit including lower pairs of levers,a lower shaft pivotally connecting the individual levers of said pairsof lower levers in crossed relation, upper pairs of levers, an uppershaft pivotally connecting the individual levers of said upper pairs oflevers in crossed relation, said last mentioned lower part of the lowerend of said supporting unit being slidable relatively to the chassis andaway from said first mentioned lower part of the supporting unit whensaid latch means is released for completely collapsing the supportingunit and to position said frame immediately above and adjacent thechassis, hanger members swingably suspended from said upper shaft of thesupporting unit, coil springs supported on said hanger members, andpositioning means connected to said hanger members and adjustablyconnected to a portion of the jointed lever system for locating saidhanger members to either straddle said lower shaft or to pass to oneside thereof when the supporting unit is moved toward a fully collapsedposition, said springs engaging between the upper and lower shafts ofthe supporting unit when the hanger member are disposed to straddle thelower shaft and the supporting unit is unlatched from the chassis andmoved to adjacent a fully collapsed position for yieldably supportingthe frame above the chassis in a partially extended position foryielding movement toward and away from said chassis.

2. A combination vehicle of the character described comprising a wheeledchassis having spaced sides, an extensible supporting unit comprising asystem of jointed levers having a lower end connected to the chassissides, a seat supporting frame having spaced sides connected to andsupported by the upper end of said supporting unit, said supporting unithaving a lower part and an upper part pivotally connected to the chassissides and frame sides, respectively, and a lower part and an upper partpivotally and slidably connected to the chassis sides and frame sides,respectively, means adjustably latching said last mentioned lower partof the supporting unit to the chassis sides at different spacedintervals from the first mentioned lower part of the supporting unit formaintaining said supporting unit in different extended positions forsupporting said frame at different elevations above the chassis, a seatmounted on and supported by the frame sides, a back rest connected toand supported by the frame sides and extending upwardly from the rearend of said seat, and spring means supported by a jointed part of thesupporting unit lever system, means selectively arranging said springmeans for engaging another jointed part of the lever system in oneselected position of the spring means for supporting the lever system ina partially extended position when the last mentioned part of the lowerend of the supporting unit is unlatched from the chassis whereby saidframe is yieldably supported above and spaced from the chassis.

, 3. In a combination vehicle of the class described, a wheeled chassishaving spaced sides, a seat, back rest, a guard rail, a frame, anextensible supporting unit having a first lower portion pivotallyconnected to the chassis sides,'a second lower portion pivotally andslidably connected to the chassis sides, a first upper portionpivot-ally connected to said frame and a second upper portion slidablyconnected to the frame, latch means releasably latching said secondlower portion of the supporting unit to the chassis sides in positionsdifferently spaced from said first lower portion for maintaining thesupporting unit in different extended positions for supporting the frameat different levels above the chassis, said seat being' secured to andsupported on said frame, said back rest being swingably connected to theframe for swingawaass ing movement between a folded position above andadjacent the seat and frame, a substantially upright position relativeto the seat and a reclining position relative to the seat, said guardrail being disposed above and extending along the sides and across theforward part of the frame, links having spaced portions pivotallyconnected to the frame and to the guard rail for swinging movement ofthe guard rail longitudinally of the frame, means pivotally connected tothe back rest and to the guard rail for causing the back rest to swingforwardly 1 and rearwardly relative to the frame simultaneously with theguard rail, said frame having a rear portion engaged by and supportingthe back rest in the reclining position thereof, and a brace connectedto said rear frame portion and detachably connected to the back rest forsupporting the back rest in the upright position thereof.

4. In a combination vehicle as in claim 3, said guard rail comprising afront portion and transversely spaced side portions, said meanspivotally connected to the back rest and guard rail comprising aU-shaped member having an intermediate portion extending across the rearside of the back rest and pivotally connected thereto and forwardlyextending side portions having forward ends pivotally connected to thesides of said guard rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS223,120 Doellinger Dec. 30, 1879 317,468 Morstatt May 5, 1885 848,465Homeyer Mar. 26, 1907 1,088,419 Heyer Feb. 24, 1914 1,622,108 HawkinsonMar. 22, 1927 1,764,914 Vande Mark June 17, 1930 2,428,935 Hansburg Oct.14, 1947 2,494,045 Kauffman Jan. 10, 1950 2,578,311 Lorenz Dec. 11, 19512,604,143 Boyajian July 22, 1952

